Well that hurt. Of course, he wasn’t being rational. He was egging her on. But goddammit. Seeing her in pain. Knowing they touched her. That they could have killed her. As it was, he could barely hold the wolf in. The wolf that wanted to start tearing through the streets looking for the assholes who did this to her. The wolf that wanted to drag her back to his den and keep her safe forever.

But none of that would happen. Whatever attacked her was long gone and Miki wasn’t letting him drag her anywhere now. He still couldn’t believe she let him get away with it this long.

Conall leaned down, his face inches from Miki’s. “Bring it on, sweets. I’m more than ready for you.”

They stared at each other for at least a full minute. Then, with a snarl, Miki stalked off. She opened the door, but Conall’s voice stopped her.

“Maybe I wasn’t clear. You’re not going anywhere without me. And that starts now.”

Miki glared at him. Then she slapped her leg. “Well come on, boy! Come on. Time for your walk.” She stormed out the door. “And don’t forget your leash!”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zach wince. But Conall didn’t flinch.

Sara stared at him from the couch. “You know, you could have just asked her if you could come along.”

Of course, he hadn’t actually thought of that as an option.

Sara shook her head. “Asshole.”

* * *

Miki stared at the pathetic excuse of a dog watching her from the foot of her temporary bed. “All right. If you must.”

The beast clamored on top of her bed and settled in at her feet. She’d never had a dog before. She’d always left that up to Sara. Yet, especially in the mood she was in, she found him quite comforting. Considering what Sara had to live with when her grandmother was still alive, she wasn’t surprised her friend always made sure to have a dog. And she understood why her heart went out to the abused, the deformed, and the freakish of the breed.

She turned the light off and settled in. Her anger had tired her out and she would probably get a few hours sleep. Good. She didn’t sleep often, but she was glad when she did. A welcome respite from her brain.

She felt the dog jump down from the bed. “Hey, Roscoe. Where ya goin’?” She thought he’d spend the night. Keep her company. “Oh, whatever.” She settled back down and was just drifting off to sleep when she felt Roscoe return. He jumped up on the bed and settled down right behind her. His snout against her ear, his furry forearm across her waist.

“Watch the wet snout, beast.” Then she was asleep. Oddly comforted by Sara’s freak dog.

Conall nudged Miki’s door open with his muzzle and walked out into the hallway. He had a couple of hours before they had to leave for the airport and Miki’s alarm wouldgo off soon.

Zach was heading back to his and Sara’s bedroom with two bottles of water when he stopped to intently watch Conall in that way only predators had.

“Have you no shame?” he finally asked.

Conall shifted and quietly closed Miki’s door. He shrugged and smiled. “Not when it comes to her. No.”

“You better be careful. That woman’s deranged. And mean.”

“Zach,” Sara called from their bedroom, “get your tight ass back in here!”

Conall crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Yes, O great leader. And yours is so stable.”

Zach snorted. “At least I’m getting laid.”

With that, Zach disappeared back into his bedroom.

“Asshole.”

He glanced back at Miki’s door. It felt nice sleeping beside her. Even as wolf. She talked in her sleep. She kept spouting equations and formulas. She’d just bark them out of nowhere. Kind of entertaining, in its own twisted way.

Conall smiled. She’d get over this little anger thing eventually. See that he was trying to do what was best for her.

Hell, how mad could she be?

Chapter Eight

So far, it had been the longest day in his recent memory. From when Miki “accidentally” spit Cheerios at him during breakfast. To when she “accidentally” told the airport cops he was carrying heroin. To when she “accidentally” told the check-in staff at the hotel she was only thirteen and that Conall was her pimp. Oh, and that she was planning to bring a few “johns” into their four-star hotel. Would that be okay?

And no matter how much he wanted to wring her neck, he wouldn’t. Even though she made him friggin’ nuts, he’d be damned if he let her see she was getting to him.

Although she was getting to him. And not in the way she wanted to either. If anything, he wanted her more. He liked that she didn’t take shit from anybody, especially him. He liked that she was mean as a snake when provoked. He liked how she smelled when pissed off.

And she was royally pissed off.

He wondered how much longer she could be mad at him. A day? A year? A lifetime? He wouldn’t put it past her. He sensed the girl could hold a grudge.

Conall pulled a pillow over his head and tried to think about anything or anyone other than Miki Kendrick.

That lasted all of five minutes. Then he started obsessing over how hot she was.

Just a dog with a bone.

Well, she had to eat sometime. And except for the Cheerios, half of which ended up on the first T-shirt he wore that morning, she hadn’t eaten a thing. She’d even passed on the airplane peanuts.

He threw the pillow off and went to the door that connected the rooms. He took a deep breath and knocked.